Gardner-Webb University signs basketball coach to contract extension

Wednesday

After leading GWU to first NCAA tournament appearance, 42-year-old Tim Craft is under contract through 2026-2027 season

BOILING SPRINGS - After a historic basketball season, Gardner-Webb University is giving Tim Craft a raise and a contract extension through the 2026-2027 season, the school announced on Wednesday.

Craft, 42, is coming off a season when he led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to their first Big South Conference title and first NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in March.

Details of the new contract were not released by the school.

A Tallahassee, Fla., native, Craft has gone 111-90 in his six seasons at GWU head coach. Only GWU Hall of Famer Eddie Holbrook, for whom the school's Paul Porter Arena gymnasium court is named, had more (141 wins) during his first six seasons at the school.

“My family and I are thankful for the commitment made by our administration to the Gardner-Webb men’s basketball program and our staff," Craft said in a school news release. "We are truly humbled and blessed. This campus and community are special in countless ways and they love college basketball, especially their Runnin’ Bulldogs. The support we have experienced during our time here is second to none. I would like to publicly thank (incoming school president) Dr. (Bill) Downs, (interim school president) Dr. (Ben) Leslie and (GWU athletic director) Chuck Burch, along with the Board of Trustees, for their confidence in our program. I would also like to thank all of our current and former players and coaches who have contributed so much to the success of Gardner-Webb basketball over the last six years."

Hired on July 22, 2013, Craft has posted five winning seasons in six years and never had a losing record in Big South Conference play. He's twice had 20-win seasons including a GWU NCAA Division I record 23 wins this past season.

GWU finished with a 23-12 record this past season after losing to eventual national champion Virginia 71-56 in the first round of the 2019 NCAA tournament. In a game played at the University of South Carolina's Colonial Life Arena, GWU twice led by 14 points in the first half before the Cavaliers rallied for the victory.

Earlier in the season, the Runnin' Bulldogs had recorded victories at Georgia Tech and Wake Forest - or the first road wins over ACC schools in GWU history. Craft has also led Gardner-Webb to upset wins over the ACC's Clemson (at the Virgin Islands) and at Purdue and Nebraska of the Big Ten Conference during his tenure.

During his tenure at GWU, the Runnin' Bulldogs have had a terrific home court advantage at Paul Porter Arena.

This past season, Craft's team went 13-0 at home to become one of only seven teams in Division I to go undefeated on their home court. GWU also is 25-2 at home since the end of the 2016-2017 season and 58-14 since the 2014-2015 season.

Craft also is one of four current Big South Conference who have at least 100 wins and a winning record at their current institutions and is only the second coach in league history history to win 17 or more games in each of his first four seasons. Former Winthrop head coach (and current Wichita State head coach) Gregg Marshall also won 17 or more games in his first four seasons.

"Tim has been a terrific representative of our institution, on the court, around campus and in the community," Burch said in a school news release. "He has earned this type of commitment and validation. We were confident Tim was the right choice in 2013 and that has proven to be true. The present and future is very bright for the men’s basketball program, and we are excited that Tim is in our head coach’s seat."

Added Leslie in a school news release: "This is an exciting time for our University and the men’s basketball program. Tim is an exemplary coach and has made a significant investment in our campus and community. We are pleased that he and his family will continue in that role for years to come."

Craft first came to Gardner-Webb as an assistant coach prior to the 2004-2005 season, serving under Rick Scruggs and helping the Runnin’ Bulldogs capture a share of the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title. He remained at GWU for two more years before becoming an assistant at Auburn and East Carolina.

In GWU history, he's one of only four coaches with 100 or more overall victories.

Holbrook is the top winner with a 335-68 record from 1964-65 to 1977-78. He's followed by Scruggs (213-198 record from 1995-96 to 2008-09), Jim Wiles (212-148 record from 1978-79 to 1989-90).

Richard Walker: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/jrwalk22

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